Controlling mechanism for motor-cycles.



lNo. 789.980. I PATENTEDMAY 16,1905.

v A. LEVEDAHL & R. A. NORLING.

I CONTROLLING yMEGIEIANISM POR MOTOR CYCLES.

A'PPLIOATION FILED sin-P128, 1903.l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

y A EE I (gl/ vez ons., 112 ZLeL/eclalr/ UNITED STATES Patented May 16, 1905.

PATENT OEEIO'E.

AxEL LEvEDAI-IL AND REINHOLD A. NORLING, OE AURORA, ILLINOIS, AssIoNORs To AURORA AUTOMATIC MACHINERY COMPANY, ,OE

AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION O'F ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLING. wlEoHANlswl` Fon MOTOR-CYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,980, dated May 16, 1905.

l Application filed Septemberfl, 1903. Serial No. 172,227.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, AXEL LEVEDAHL and REINI-IOLD A. NORLING, of Aurora, in the inafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is afragmentary top plan view of the handle-bars of a motorcycle, the steering-post, and a part of the frame, showing the application of our invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1 with parts shown in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper end of the steering-head, a part of the frame, and a portion of the handle-bar, showing the manner of attaching our, improvements thereto. Fig. 4 is an axial sectional view of one of the hand-grips of the handlebars, Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof, taken in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an axial sectional view of the swivel between the stationary and swinging connection between the hand-grip and motor-controlling member. Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. l. Fig. 8 isja top planview of the handle-bars and lsteering-head, showing the application of a modified form of our invention thereto. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of said parts with parts shown in section. Fig. l0 is a side elevation of the of Fig. 9. Fig. l2 is a cross-section taken on line l2 l2 of Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13 13 of Fig. 9 with parts omitted.

First referring to the construction shown in Figs. l to 7, inclusive, A designates the steering-head of the motor-cycle; B B, the handle-bars, and B the handle-bar stem,which extends downwardly into and is secured to the steering-head.

B2 designates the hand-grip of one of the handle-bars.

The manually-operable motor controlling device embodying our invention embraces, in combination with the actuating member controlling'the speed of the motor or for starting and stopping the motor, or both, of operative connections between said actuating member and a part carried by the handle-bars, preferably on or embodied in the hand-grip of one 0f the handle-bars, whereby the motor may be stopped and started and its speed controlled by the hand of the rider without necessitating the rider to vassume an unusual or inconvenient position on the machine for controlling the motor. Said Operative connections embody in the preferred form of our device a swiveling connection between the part of the mechanism carried on the handlebars and that carried on the machine-frame proper. Preferably, also, the mechanism is so constructed that the igniting-circuit of an explosive-motor is opened and closed by the same manually-operable part which' controls the speed of the motor.

O designates the controlling member referred to, which is connected in any suitable .or prefer/red manner with the controlling and stopping and starting devices 'of the motor andis operated from the devices carried on the handle-bars. `When applying our improvements to a gasOlene-motor, for which it is Inore especially designed, said actuating member C is operatively connected with a part `which controls the sparking device and with the exhaust-valve of the motor, and inasmuch as these devices are common and well known the motor and Its associated parts are not shown. Said actuating member consists of a lever which is pivoted at its forward end on a pivot-stud c, extending laterally from the steering-head. Said lever is loosely connect ed at its rear end with an endwise-movable rod C', which is connected with the motor controlling and starting and stopping devices. The lever C is provided on its forward margin with gear-teeth c', which are formed to constitute a segmental gear.` Said segmental gear meshes with a vertical rack-bar D, which is attached to a vertically-sliding bar D, located at one side of the lever C and provided with an elongated slot LZ, through which extends the pivot-stud c, said stud and slot constituting a guide for the vertically-movable bar. When the bar is moved upwardly from the position it occupies in Figs. 2 and 3, it acts to swing the inner end of the lever C downwardly and to draw the connecting-rod C forwardly, the connection of said rod with the motor speed-controlling and stopping and starting devices being such that this movement starts I[he motor and controls the speed of the motor from its lowest to its highest speed as the inner end of the lever is swung downwardly. rlhe connection of said sliding bar Dl with the hand-grip, whereby said bar may be raised and lowered in the manner stated, is made as follows: The hand-grip B2, which may be made of cork, rubber, or like material, is mounted on the rearwardly-turned end of the handle-bar so as to have a limited rotation thereon. Said hand-grip is fixed to a sleeve B3, which is capable of a limited rotation on the handle-bar and extends through the grip from one end thereof to the other. Formed on or attached to the forward end of said sleeve B3 and surrounding the handle-bar is a flange B2 which is provided at its inner side with a lug E designates an endwisereciprocatory rod or bar, which is loosely connected at its outer end with said lug and is loosely connected at its inner end with one arm, f, of a bell-crank lever F, which latter is pivoted at its angle on a stud f, attached to the handle-bar near the stein B thereof. rlhe other arm,f2,of said bell-crank lever is loosely connected with a downwardly-extending link Gr, which latter is loosely connected at its end remote from the bell-crank lever with the slidingrack-bar D/, hereinabove referred to. Said link is connected with the upper end of said sliding bar D through the medium of a swivel which rotates about the central axis of the handle-bar stem,whereby said link and bar D maintain their proper relation throughout the entire swing of the handle-bars about the axis of said'stem and the head. Said swivel also embraces a guide so constructed as to maintain the proper relative vertical relation of the sliding bar and link in all positions of the handle-bar. Said swivel and guide are made as follows: The upper end of the rackbar D is provided with a laterally-turned horizontal part'D, which is apertured to lit over a collar D3, which surrounds the stein B' and slides vertically thereon. G designates a fiat horizontal ring, which also surrounds the guide-collar D3, above referred to, and is fixed thereto, and said ring (ir is provided at its outer side with a lug y, which is loosely connected with the lower end of the lilik (i, above referred to. The ring G surrounds a reduced part of the collar D and is clamped between the upper upset end of the collar D and the upper part of a larger part d thereof, which is encircled by the laterally-turned part D2 of said sliding bar D. ',lhe parts are so arranged that the ring (iir is lixed to and turns with the collar D3, and said enlarged part u of the collar D3 is made somewhat longer than the thickness of the laterally-turned part l):2 of the bar D, so that said collar is free to rotate in said laterally-turned apertured partol said bar, the axis of relative rotation between said parts being the central longitudinal axis of the stem B. With this construction when the hand-grip B2 is rotated to the left from the position shown in Fig. 2 it acts, through the connecting-rod E and bell-crank lever F, to draw the link G upwardly, and said link acts, through the ring Gr and collar D, to draw upwardly the rack-bar D and swing the starting-lever C on its axis in a manner to start the motor and to control its speed. Then the hand-grip is turned to the right, it acts, through said connection, to depress the said rack-harfD,a11d therefore swings the lever C in a manner to slow the motor and linally to stop the same.

Means are provided for adjusting vertically the pivot-studf of the bell-crank lever F, so that in assembling the parts of the device said pivot may be accurately located to impart the proper throw to the rack-bar with the extent of limited rotation provided for the handgrip. The means for so adjusting the pivot f are made in the present instance as follows:

H designates a block which is attached to the handlehar, near the stem thereof, through the medium of a divided collar H, Fig. 7, which encircles the handle-bar. Said block is provided on its rear face with a vertical groove t, which is herein shown as made particylindric to give it an undercut cross-section. The stud f' is provided at its forward end with a parti-cylindric verticallyelongated head f3, which lits within and is capable of vertical adjustment in said groove. /lf designates a washer which surrounds said stud between said head and bell-crank lever, and said washer is provided with a rearwardly-ex tending cylindrical iiange if, which extends through the pivot-aperture of a lever and constitutes the pivot on which said lever is directly mounted. Said flange is made somewhat longer than the thickness of the bellcrank lever. I-l3 designates a washer surrounding'said stud f in rear of the lever ll,

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it. f4 designates a nut which has screwthreaded engagement with the rear end of the v pivot-studf and which is adapted to be turned tightly against the washer 7a2. With this construction the head f3 of said pivot-stud is clamped tightly against the undercut front faces of said groove t and held lixedly in place when adjusted. 'Such construction also prevents clamping action on the bell-crank lever and permits it to swing freely on its pivot. By reason of the vertical movement of the head f3 of said pivot-stud in the groove of said block the said pivot-stud may be vertically shifted as required to adjust the pivot to the bell-crank lever with respect to the other operative partsof the mechanism.

The mechanism when adapted to a gasolenemotor embodies means for controlling the sparking mechanism by which the explosive charges'are ignited in the cylinder, and as a further and separate improvement we have provided circuit-closing devices which are actuated by rotation of the hand-gri p in the manner before described, whereby the ignitingcircuit by which the explosive charge of the motor is ignited may be opened and closed as the hand-grip is rotated to start and stop the motor. It is common in motors of this character to operate the igniting mechanism to motor, and being advanced to increase the speed of the motor. In such devices the igniting-circuit remains closed so long as the speedof the motor may be maintained under its slowest range, and thereafter the igniting-circuit is opened to prevent further ignition of the explosive charges. It is also a common expedient in these machines to lock the exhaust-valve open when it is desired to stop the motor. The mechanism herein shown is designed to operate a motor wherein such opening of the exhaust-valve occurs, and upon this occurrence the parts are arranged to open the igniting-circuit. Said circuit-closing devices are made as follows: I designates a metal stem which is located centrally of the outer end of the hand-grip and is connected at its forward end with a cable I', containing one of the wires constituting one side of the igniting-circuit. rIhe other side of the circuit is traced through the metal frame of the machine. J designates a thimble which is inserted into the rear open end of the handle-bar within the hand-grip, and contained in the said thimble is a bushing J made of insulating material, through which the stem I passes and in which it closely iits. Said stem is exteriorly roughened to prevent its slipping endwise in said insulated bushing. The end wall Bet of the sleeve B3, whichis iiush with the end of the grip, is provided with a transverse slot extending thereacross, and contained in said slot is a bar B5, made of `insulating material, said bar being provided with a central aperture through which the stem I extends. K designates a metal contact-strip which is made of a length somewhat less than the diameter of the end wall of the sleeve B3 and is apertured and lits over the stem I. The contact-strip is non-rotatively mounted on said stem. The contactstrip is 'confined against the outer wall of said sleeve B3v and the insulating-bar by means of nuts r1 c, having screw-threaded engagement with the outer end of the' stem, and a non-rotative washer 2 is interposed between said nuts. It is seen, therefore, that the stem I and contact-strip K are stationary, while the sleeve B3 turns with the hand-grip. When the hand-grip and stem occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 2, the insulating-bar B5 is located in line with the contact-strip and the contact-strip bears thereon, and at this time the igniting-circuitis open. When, how-l ever, the hand-grip is turned one-quarter of a rotation in a direction to start the motor, the metal end wall of the sleeve B3 is brought into contact with the ends o f the contact-strip K, thereby closing the igniting-circuit between said contact-stripand the end wall'of the sleeve. Conversely, when the hand-grip is rotated in the opposite direction the igniting-circuit is opened and the motor stopped.

The construction shown in Figs. 8 and 12, inclusive, is similar to the construction just described, so far as is concerned the vertically-movable rack-bar and its connections with the motor-actuating lever C and link Gr. rIhe operative connections between the rotative hand-grip and the link G and the circuitclosing devices, however, are modified, these modifications being made as follows: The connecting-rod E of the last-mentioned construction is substantially the same as-that before described. Said connecting bar is loosely connected at its outer end with a lug 0,which rotates with the hand-grip, as will hereinafter more fully appear, and is loosely connected at its inner end adjacent to the handle-bar stem to a chain, L, which latter is attached at its lower end to the link G. Said chain L is contained in a suitableguide L', which is attached to the handle-bar near the stem thereof and comprises a vertical part Z and a laterallycurved part Z@ Said guide is attached to the handle-bar by means of a bracket M, attached to or formed on a divided collar M', which surrounds the handle bar. The laterallyturned part Z of the guide is slotted in its upper and lower walls to permit the connectingbar. E to swing slightly as it is moved inwardly and `outwardly by reasonV of its connection with the rotative lug 0 on a iiange O, formed on a, sleeve O rotative with the hand-grip, as in the prior construction. One side Z2 of the guide is made removable, asl shown in Fig. 9,

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to facilitate the insertion of the chain in said guide. rl`he said guide is herein shown as attached to the bracket M by means ofa lug m on the bracket and a bolt m, which extends through the bracket and the rear wall of the guide. rIhe upper hole in the said bracket is made horizontally elongated, whereby the guide may have sufcient swing on the stud, before the guide is finally fastened, to enable the vertical part thereof to be properly adjusted relatively to the link G. The operation of this form of the device so far as it relates to actuation of the motor-controlling lever is the same as the first-described construction and need not be further referred to.

The eireuit-closingdevices by which igniting-eircuit is closed is shown in the last-mentioned construction as located at the forward end of the hand-grip instead of at the rear end thereof. 1 As herein shown, the said circuitclosing devices consist of a stationary contactpiece N, to which one end of the circuit-wire N is attached, and a cam-ring P, which is attached to the forward fiange O of the sleeve O and rotative with the hand-grip. Said rotative contact-ring is provided in one part of its circumference With a cam portion P, which extends slightly forwardly of the main part of the ring and extends into the path of the rear end of the contact-pieee N, so that when the hand-grip is turned to bring the part P of the contact-ring opposite the contact-piece the circuit is closed between said parts. The contact-piece N extends through a bracket N 2, which is formed on a divided collar which surrounds the handlebar, and the contact-piece is insulated from said bracket in the manner shown in Fig. 8. The operation of this feature'of the device is the same as the operation of the former-described circuit-closing devices, the parts being so constructed that the igniting-circuit is closed when the engine is started and is opened when the engine is stopped.

The lever C is preferably provided with a hand-crank C2, which is designed to be used in cases of emergency to control and stop and start the motor-as, for instance, in the event the principal controlling mechanism should become impaired by reason of breakage or other casualty.

We claim as our inventionl. In a motor-cycle, the combination with the controlling member for the motor, and a manually-actuated device for controlling said member carried by the handle-bar, of a collar surrounding the stem of the handle-bar and sliding endwise thereof, and two ring-like members surrounding said collar, one connected with said motor member and the other with the hand-actuated device, one of said ring members being fixed to the collar and the other rotative thereon.

2. In a motor-cycle, the combination with the motor-controlling lever provided with a segmental rack and a vertically-sliding rackbar meshing with said rack, of a hand-actuated device carried by the handle-bar, and operative connections between said rack-bar and said hand-actuated device, embracing a swivel having a rotative part which is colicentric with the stem of the handle-bar.

3. ln a motor-cycle, the combination with the controllinglever for the motor provided with a segmental gear, an end\\'ise-mova|1h` rack-bar meshing with said gear, and a laterally-turned part on said rack-bar having a part which is apertured and surrounds the stem of the handle-bar, of a hand-actuated device carried by the handle-bar, and operative connections between said hand-actuated device and said laterally-turned part of the rackbar,embraeing a rin g-like member which is connected with said laterally-turned part of the rack-bar to' move the same end wise and is relatively rotative with respect thereto.

4. In a motor-cycle, the combination with the controlling-lever for the motor provided with a segmental gear` an endwise-movablc rack-bar meshing with said gear, a collar surrounding the stem of the handle-bar, and a laterally-turned part on said rack-bar which surrounds said collar, of a hand-actuated device carried by the handle-bar, a ring snrrounding said collar and attached thereto in a manner to give endwise movement to the rack-bar, and is relatively rotative with respect to the laterally-turned part of said rackbar, and operative connections between said hand-actuated device and said collar.

5. In a motor-cycle, the combination with the controlling-lever for the motor provided with a segmental gear, an endwise-movable rack-bar meshing with said gear, a collar surrounding the stem of the handle-bar and movable endwise thereof, and a laterally-tnrned part on the rack-bar which surrounds said collar, of a ring also surrounding said collar, said collar and laterally-turned part being relatively rotative with respect to each other, a hand actuating device carried by the handle-bar and operative connections between said hand-actuated device and said ring, comprisinga bell-crank lever pivoted on the handle-bar, one arm of which is connected with the hand-actuated device and a link connecting the other arm of said bell-cran k lever with said ring.

6. In a motor-cycle, the combination with the controlling-lever for the motor provided with a segmental gear, an endwise-movable rack-bar meshing with said gear, a collar su rrounding the stem of the handleebar and movable endwise thereof, and a laterally-turned part on the rack-bar which surrounds said collar, of a ring also surrounding said collar, said ring being rotative relatively to the rack-bar, a hand actuating device carried by the handle-bar and operative connections between said hand-actuated device and said ring, com- IOO prising a bell-crank lever pivoted on the handle-bar, one arm of Which is connected With the hand-actuated device and a link connecting the other arm of said bellecrank lever with said ring.

7 In a motor-cycle, the combination with the controlling-lever for the motor, providedA with a segmental gear, an endWise-movable rack-bar meshing With said gear, a collar surrounding the stem of the handle-bar and moving endwise thereof, and a laterally-turned part on the rack-bar which surrounds said collar, of a ring also surrounding said collar, said ring being rotative relatively to the rack-bar, a hand-actuated device carried by the rackbar, a bell-crank lever pivoted on the rackbar near the stem thereof, a rod connecting said bell-crank lever with the hand actuating device, a link connecting the other arm of said bell-crank lever with said ring and means for vertically adjusting the pivot of said bellcrank lever.

8. In a motor-cycle the combination with the controlling member for the motor, and a hand-grip which has limited rotation on the handle-bar, of operative connections between said rotative hand-grip and said member, and

. circuit-closing devices, one of which is carried by and rotates with the hand-grip, for opening and closing the igniting-circuit of the motor. 9. In a motor-cycle, the combination With .the controlling member of the motor, and a end of the handle-bar and non-rotatively connected with the grip proper, a lug on the for- WardA end of said sleeve, a head closing the rear end of the sleeve andprov'idedwith a transverse groove, an insulating-bar seated in said groove, a stem located axially in said sleeve and connected With the handle-bar and a contact-strip non-rotative on said stem and adapted for engagement With the head of said sleeve and with said insulating-bar.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our invention We aliX our signatures, in presence of Witnesses, (LEVEDAHL) thi'slth day of July, A. D. 1903, and (NORLING) this 6th day of July, A. D. 1903'.

AXEL LEVEDAHL. REINHOLD A. NORLING.

Witnesses for Levedahl: H. A. CROGHAN, PERoY L. DAY.

Witnesses for Norling:

C. CLARENCE PooLE, GEORGE R. WILEINs. 

